Automatic egg vaccinator

Abstract

The invention relates to a system of automatic vaccination of eggs, developed for the purpose of vaccinating large quantities of fertile eggs in order to reduce the costs and labor involved, reduce embryonic mortality by increasing protection from diseases and reduce the stress in the first day of life of poultry chicks by eliminating the process of manually vaccinating each chick. The invention comprises an automatic system controlled by a PLC (programmable logic controller), using an injector that has a cylindrical body and cap made from high density non-corrosive plastic and together they form a pneumatic chamber, the cap containing an electronic contact sensor to signal empty egg spaces and avoiding wasting vaccine. The injector's pneumatic chamber contains a plasticized fiber sleeve to permit smooth movement of the pneumatic plunger. A needle passes through the plunger and a double acting spring in addition to securing the plunger in its starting position and returning it to the original position after the injection of vaccine, reduces the pressure on the needle after it breaks the egg shell to avoid harming the embryo. The injection platform that has conical holes for the injectors to permit lateral movements that allows the injectors to accommodate eggs that are tilted, with the injectors locked into position by a series of air bladders located within the platform and running parallel to the injectors. The sanitization system which disinfects the needle and the part of the injector in contact with the egg after every single injection is coupled with the removal of the incubator trays from the vaccination area to economize on production time.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority from Brazilian Application No. MU8401284-6, filed on Jun. 15, 2004, in Brazil.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to a system of automatic vaccination of eggs.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The process of vaccinating eggs is important in the medical field and in poultry production. In medicine, eggs are used to incubate biological material utilized in the production of vaccines. In poultry production, the objective of in-egg vaccination is to protect the animals from endemic diseases.[0004]Embryos receiving vaccine three days before hatching instead of the first day after hatching have more time to develop antibodies and consequently have a greater resistance to diseases. In this process, the vaccine ideally is applied directly into the allantoidal cavity of the egg, without direct needle contact with the embryo.[0005]The incubation time for a chicken embryo is typically 21 days and in-egg vaccination is norm...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention aims to provide a solution for the problems in automatic in-egg vaccination by reducing the problems of the platform, improving sanitization, and controlling vaccine dosage and embryonic deaths without compromising the productivity of the vaccination process. The new injector platform lowers the injectors and aligns and secures them over the eggs, while the two-stage spring prevents harm to the embryo. An electronic sensor signals whether vaccine should be pumped into the needle for injection. The vaccinator is automatic and controlled by a PLC that monitors all parameters including time, pressure, and sequence of processes. The dosage is controlled automatically by the PLC.

Problems solved by technology

The vaccination of more than one egg without sanitization creates the potential for spreading contamination from one egg to the next during the cycle.

The repetitiveness of the vaccination cycle results in a slow process and low productivity.

If the eggs are slightly tilted, the needle then enters the shell at an angle that may cause the shell to crack and may make contact with the embryo, both of which can be fatal to the embryo.

One of the major drawbacks of the injector referred to above is that the metal air cylinder suffers severe oxidation resulting from the strong corrosive action of the disinfectants used to sanitize the vaccinator.

The build up of oxidized material on the plunger inhibits its movement and eventually freezes it in place.

The repair and substitution of the air cylinder causes production delays in addition to higher costs.

An egg from a flock of older parent birds will have an air cell larger than an egg from a younger parent bird and if a long needle is used to vaccinate an egg from a young flock there is a high probability that the embryo will be punctured by the needle causing injury or death.

Even if the appropriate needle length for the flock age is used, it frequently happens that the embryo is positioned higher in the egg and is hit by the needle under high pressure, thereby causing death to the embryo.

In addition to the monetary loss from embryo death, the need for various sized needles reduces the hatchery productivity.

The injection into the space without an egg is an expensive waste of vaccine.

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